Question

Here are some more examples of vague and ambiguous requirements that have actually appeared in real requirements specifications. Discuss why they are vague, incomplete, or ambiguous. Provide improved versions of these requirements (make necessary assumptions).

a) The tool will allow for expedited data entry of important data fields needed for subsequent reports.
b) The documented analysis report will include, as appropriate, investigation findings, engineering analysis, and laboratory analysis.

Answer 1

a) The tool will allow for expedited data entry of important data fields needed for subsequent reports. In this statement we can say that there is no firm data was given

• How tool will expedited the data in the given situation
• How quicky it will do compare to other tool
• Quatifiable number required to compare this tool with other tool
• What kind of data it can process
• what is the limitation of the tool
• What kind of data reports it will generate
• Is it customizable

None of these data were provided in the statement. On the basis of this we can ssay that statement is vougue and ambiguous.

As well as they talk about Engineering analysis and laboratory analysis. These two things can cover a thousands different analysis of different parameters. So this also brings lots of ambiguity.

So by this we can find the ambiguity in those two statements

b) The documented analysis report will include, as appropriate, investigation findings, engineering analysis, and laboratory analysis.

To undestand this we need to know the defination of appropriate

Appropriate - suitable or proper in the circumstances.

Here it talk about the circumstances

In this statement there is no mention of in which circumstances the report willbe appropriate. Under normal working condition ?

What if some emegency situation arises and ask for some customization in the report is required. Will tool give the appropriate report in this condition ?

Here, the appropriate should be in a given condition and they need to mention that condition in the statement